THREE DEFENDANTS SENTENCED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND FIREARMS OFFENSES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2012

Fort Smith- Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas announced that three defendants were sentenced for drug trafficking and federal firearms offenses today. Jaime Aceves-Martinez was sentenced to 248 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Brenda Day was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and 24 months (to run consecutively) for violating the terms of her supervised release. David Williams was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney commented, “We are dedicated to prosecuting those who engage in drug trafficking offenses and violent criminal activity in Fort Smith and communities across the Western District of Arkansas. The defendants in these cases have been sentenced to lengthy terms in prison. We will remain vigilant in our efforts to enforce the law and protect the people of our district.”

Jaime Aceves-Martinez, age 35, an illegal alien, was sentenced to 248 months imprisonment by Chief United States District Court Judge P. K. Holmes. According to the plea agreement, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fort Smith Police Department utilized a cooperating defendant to make a series of controlled phone calls to Aceves-Martinez to arrange the purchase of methamphetamine. Aceves-Martinez and the cooperating defendant arranged for Aceves-Martinez to deliver the methamphetamine to the cooperating defendant’s residence on July 27th, 2011. While conducting surveillance of the cooperating defendant’s residence, officers observed Aceves-Martinez arrive in a silver car. When officers attempted to arrest Aceves-Martinez, he fled on foot, but was apprehended a short time later. Officers located approximately 12 ounces of a controlled substance (later identified as methamphetamine) in Aceves-Martinez’s vehicle, as well as a 9 millimeter caliber pistol.

Brenda Day, age 27, of Fort Smith, Arkansas was sentenced to a total of 94 months imprisonment by Chief United States District Court Judge P. K. Holmes. On July 26, 2011, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fort Smith Police Department served a search warrant on the home of the defendant. Prior to obtaining the search warrant, officers utilized a confidential informant, wearing a recording device, to pay a past drug debt using $600 in recorded law enforcement funds. Day then told the confidential informant that she would soon be receiving a shipment of methamphetamine from her source of supply. During the execution of the search warrant, officers located $580 of the recorded law enforcement funds, drug ledgers and drug paraphernalia. Day was arrested and gave a post-Miranda statement admitting to distributing methamphetamine.

David Williams, age 63, of Fort Smith, Arkansas was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment by Chief United States District Court Judge P. K. Holmes. While conducting surveillance of a residence, Officers of the Fort Smith Police Department observed Williams arrive at the residence, park his vehicle and meet with a resident of the home. Officers observed Williams receive a quantity of methamphetamine from the resident and leave the home. Officers followed Williams’ pickup truck and made a traffic stop on interstate 540. A K-9 alerted to the vehicle and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed four ziploc bags containing a white crystal-like substance, a .45 caliber pistol under the driver’s seat and $4,045 in cash.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fort Smith Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steve Snyder.

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